Explore Elgin

Elgin began in Illinois in 1864 as the National Watch Company, bringing factory-scale precision to American watchmaking. Its story starts with pocket watches: sturdy movements, carefully finished plates, and dials designed to be read without hesitation. Railroad-oriented grades such as the B. W. Raymond show that practical character especially well, with bold Arabic numerals and a minute track that makes every second legible.

The wristwatches reveal another side of the company. Lord Elgin models brought finer movements—often with 21 jewels—into dress watches whose rectangular cases, stepped lugs, and restrained dials reflect the changing tastes of the mid-century years. The Lady Elgin line deserves attention too: small movements and shaped cases gave the designers a different set of proportions to work with.

Then there are Elgin’s military watches, including its versions of the A-11 specification during the Second World War. Black dials, clear white markings, and hacking seconds served a very different purpose from the dress models. The contrast is part of the pleasure of collecting Elgin.